Past Lives is filmed like an indie music video and has roughly the plot of one. Despite the sorrows of its characters, it’s an exercise primarily in whimsy: isn’t life, with all its twists and turns, just wondrous?
The movie’s feet are never quite on the ground. It deploys moments of relatable awkwardness—stuttering hellos, clumsy goodbyes—to assure us that this is all the real deal. But I hope we’re too clever for that. These moments aren’t difficult to execute, as any TV commercial demonstrates. In fact, the first section of Past Lives resembles an extended ad for a Macbook Pro: loading screens; ear buds; pixelated laughing; worldly locales; hip, goofy friends. A fluttering musical score of whirling, discordant chimes. Unrequited love is now available at your nearest Apple store.
Life is unpredictable. Even the most passing stranger has a unique story. Love takes many varied forms. Our paths are ever-changing, endlessly tangled, often crossing with those of people we’d least expect.
If you feel that the above statements are profound, you’ll likely enjoy Past Lives. But I don’t, and they aren’t. While this movie might land well with audiences by virtue of its heartfelt sincerity, it lacks the substance to stick around past this year’s Oscars.
–Jim Andersen